Staff Reporter | EMN
Dimapur, July 26
CLOSE on the heels of the green signal from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for the construction of the four lane highway project between Dimapur and Kohima, another important road link in the state is set off to take place by October this year.The construction of the much anticipated 256 km foothill link road from Dimapur via Tuli to Tizit in Mon district has had a breakthrough with the state government receiving the support of the nine tribes which will be affected by this road link.
The shortest possible road alignment on the proposed road covering five districts was tabled today at the consultative meeting of the Nagaland Foot Hill Road Construction Committee (NFHRCC) held in the residence of Yatshitsungba,Treasure Naga Foot Hill Road Construction, in Dimapur.
The road head of the proposed Foothill road is likely be Niuland in Dimapur.
The road will pass through Wokha, Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts including some areas inhabited by the Northern Sumi community.
The proposed road committee at it consultative meeting were unanimous in the speedy implementation of the project.
They have appealed for unconditional support from all the members and also to dissuade villagers from demanding land compensation on the land which might come within the purview of the proposed foothill road.
Supu Jamir, the Convenor of the NFHRCC and Chairperson of the meeting today, called for making the foothill road a reality for the survival of all Nagas. He called for caution against greed, jealousy and hatred, that the proposed road construction may usher in when construction begins.
To avoid such clashes of interests the consultative meeting unanimously agreed that contract work of a maximum stretch of 10 km should be allotted to each individual.This will not judiciously spread the contract for the road but expedite the same.
Earlier on July 23, the Committee had organised similar consultative meetings with the concerned constituency legislators at Hotel Saramati.
It was resolved to seek additional fund for construction of bridges over the Milak, Dikhu and Doyang rivers apart from Rs 40 crores earmarked by the State government for carrying out the initial phase of the construction work for the Foothill Road.
The foothill road will enable commuters in Nagaland after 50 years of statehood to circumvent the road on the Mariani-Amguri sector in Assam. It will ensure that frequent lightning bandh calls in Assam does not affect movement for the people of the state and also reduce the cost of travel.
